California man to stand trial in 2006 killing of 3

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A man has been ordered to stand trial for the killing of three members of a Southern California household whose bodies were found at a burning home in 2006.

A Riverside County district attorney's statement says 25-year-old Cristin Smith was held to answer on three murder counts Wednesday after a preliminary hearing.

Smith has pleaded not guilty.

Smith and co-defendant Robert Pape are charged with killing Pape's ex-girlfriend, Becky Friedli, her mother and her mother's boyfriend.

Friedli's body was found on fire in a wheelbarrow near the burning home and the other bodies were found inside.

Authorities say the men were arrested March 12 after DNA tests on a business card found near the crime scene found a possible match for Smith, and cellphone records indicated both men were near the home the night of the killings.